San Diego Padres
NL West
The Padres will start Jackson Merrill in centerfield on Opening Day. (Source: Jon Morosi on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: The 20-year-old prospect has officially won the centerfield job. The rookie is in Korea for the team’s two-game series with the Dodgers. Fantasy managers should expect his draft stock to rise with the announcement from Padres’ manager Mike Shildt.
Jurickson Profar exited Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Athletics early. (Source: AJ Cassavell on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The Padres should provide an update on the status of Profar at some point soon. It is not clear what the injury was. He is expected to start in left field in the Padres season opener next week.
Category: Injury Updates
Ha-Seong Kim is reportedly dealing with back spasms. (Source: Kevin Acee on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Kim underwent a precautionary test. He is likely considered as day-to-day for now.
Category: Injury Updates
Yuki Matsui is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Tuesday. (Source: AJ Cassavell on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Matsui dealt with back spasms early in camp. Padres manager Mike Shildt said that if all goes well, there should be plenty of time to get Matsui built up for the season.
Category: Injury Updates
The San Diego Padres optioned Sean Reynolds to Triple-A El Paso. (Source: MILB.com)
Fantasy Impact: Reynolds will add some relief depth in Triple-A to open the season for the Padres.
Category: Transactions
The San Diego Padres optioned Jay Groome to Triple-A El Paso. (Source: MILB.com)
Fantasy Impact: Groome will open the season adding some depth as a starter for the Padres in Triple-A.
Category: Transactions
The San Diego Padres signed Paul Fry to a minor league deal.
Fantasy Impact: Fry appeared in 13 games with the Diamondbacks and Orioles two seasons ago. He'll add relief depth to the Padres organization.
Category: Transactions
Yu Darvish is slated to make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday against the Royals. (Source: AJ Cassavell on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Darvish was able to throw live batting practice on Friday without any issue. He remains on track to start one of the two opening games in Korea against the Padres.
Category: Injury Updates
Sat, Feb 24th 11:34am EST
By Ari Koslow
Manny Machado is making his Grapefruit League at DH on Saturday against the Brewers. (Source: AJ Cassavell on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Machado remains on track to be healthy by Opening Day as he recovers from offseason elbow surgery. He'll be slowly worked back to returning to third base.
Category: Injury Updates
Joe Musgrove will start the Padres Cactus League opener on Thursday against the Dodgers. (Source: Dan Bartels on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Musgrove is fully healthy after dealing with multiple injuries last season. He'll take the mound against Gavin Stone and the Dodgers in the Spring Training opener on Thursday.
The Padres signed Austin Davis on a minor league deal.
Fantasy Impact: Davis spent previous stints with the Phillies, Pirates, Red Sox and Twins. He'll add some relief depth to the Padres organization.
Category: Transactions
Xander Bogaerts will be the Padres' primary second baseman for the 2024 season. Ha-Seong Kim will play shortstop. (Source: Dennis Lin on X)
Fantasy Impact: Bogaerts will change position one year into an 11-year deal with the Padres. He saw his production slip slightly in 2023, but still hit .285/.350/.440 and could be a good value in drafts in 2024, now with added positional eligibility as well.
Fri, Jan 12th 12:13pm EST
By Ari Koslow
Kyle Higashioka signed a one-year deal with the Padres to avoid arbitration. (Source: San Diego Padres on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: The details have not been disclosed. Involved in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees, Higashioka is expected to be the backup catcher for San Diego this seaosn.
Category: Transactions
Fri, Jan 12th 12:39am EST
By Ari Koslow
Michael King signed a one-year deal worth $3.15 million with the Padres to avoid arbitration. (Source: Jon Morosi on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: King was dealt earlier this offseason in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees. He figures to be in the starting rotation for the Padres and will be an intriguing target late in fantasy drafts.
Category: Transactions
Randy Vasquez has been traded to the Padres in the package deal that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Vasquez was utilized as both a starter and reliever for the Yankees this past season, posting a 2.87 ERA across 11 appearances with five starts. He will compete for either a spot in the Padres starting rotation or a long relief role next season.
Category: Transactions
Drew Thorpe has been traded to the Padres as part of the package deal that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Thorpe, who was a second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, posted a 2.52 ERA across High-A and Double-A this past year as one of the top prospects in the Yankees organization. He figures to take on a similar role in San Diego where he has the potential to make it to the MLB fairly soon.
Category: Transactions
Jhony Brito has been traded to the Padres as part of the package that sent Juan Soto to the Yankees. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: Brito figures to likely compete in Spring Training for a spot in the Padres Opening Day starting rotation. He struggled for most of this past year, posting a 4.28 ERA across 25 appearances with 13 starts.
Category: Transactions
San Diego has traded Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees in exchange for five players: Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Kyle Higashioka. (Source: Joel Sherman)
Fantasy Impact: There were rumors that the Padres would try to move the 25-year-old phenom for his last year before hitting free agency, and they found a deal with the Yankees. Soto brings elite batting skills; in 2023, he hit 35 HR with 109 RBI, 97 runs, and 12 stolen bases while slashing .275/.421/.524. He will slot into a lineup that needs an offensive boost; New York slashed .227/.304/.397 as a team last year. (Aaron Judge was limited to 106 games.) No matter where he plays, Soto is a first-round talent in fantasy baseball. And now, he will be showcasing his skills heading into his first free-agency contract on the biggest stage in baseball. Soto is poised for a monster year in the Bronx.
Category: Transactions
The Guardians have acquired RP Scott Barlow from the Padres in exchange for Engel De Los Santos. (Source: Guardians on Twitter )
Fantasy Impact: Barlow struggled last season, pitching to a 4.37 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 63 appearances. The veteran pitched well as a member of the Royals, so the Guardians could be looking to recapture some of that magic.
Category: Transactions
Padres first baseman/designated hitter Matt Carpenter has exercised his 2024 player option. (Source: MLB Transaction Tracker on Twitter)
Fantasy Impact: As a result, the veteran will earn $5.5 million for the 2024 campaign. Carpenter largely served as the Padres' DH against right-handed pitching in 2023, hitting just .176 with five home runs and a .641 OPS across 76 games.
Category: Transactions